St Mirren

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

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Not since December 2020 had St Mirren beaten Rangers before this victory - a 3-2 League Cup win - and you have to go back to 2011 for their previous top-flight success in this fixture.

Boy, did they have to work for it. Their aggressive approach and compact shape in the first half was key to them going into the break ahead.

They then had to suffer in the second period as Rangers earned themselves a deserved equaliser, but Stephen Robinson's side responded well and came within an inch of taking the lead when Robin Propper headed a corner off his own crossbar.

And they did not settle for a point in the closing stages, evidenced by Jonah Ayunga's determination to win the ball just before Caolan Boyd-Munce smashed in his stunner.

Robinson was bold in his decision to throw on 17-year-olds Callum Penman and Evan Mooney, who assisted the winner.

It is now three wins in a row for the Paisley side, who have fourth place in their sights.

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St Mirren defender Declan John has signed a contract extension, keeping him at the Paisley club until the end of the season.

The former Rangers player signed for Stephen Robinson's side on a short-term deal last month, and has since made two appearances.

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St Mirren left-back Scott Tanser is suspended but Toyosi Olusanya returns from a ban. Conor McMenamin is again a doubt while skipper Mark O'Hara remains out with a thigh problem.

Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland returns after being called to the birth of his daughter just before kick-off against Dundee.

John Souttar (groin) and Neraysho Kasanwirjo (knee) remain sidelined while Tom Lawrence is working his way back to fitness.

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Manager Stephen Robinson is "optimistic" that talks with Declan John will result in the Wales defender staying at St Mirren until at least the summer.

The 29-year-old, who arrived in November on a short-term deal until January, has only made two substitute appearances so far but will replace the suspended Scott Tanser for the visit of Rangers on Boxing Day.

"It was short term initially but we're speaking to Declan currently about extending that deal, because we feel he's been very good cover," said Robinson.

"He's getting the fitness, he's played at very good levels, and he's added a bit of quality to us.

"And it's important that Scott has that competition, and they're both fighting to be the number one.

"I'm optimistic, at least until the end of the season. He's enjoyed himself without getting the game time. He was due to start on Saturday (at Ross County), but ended up coming down with an illness overnight in the hotel."

Former Rangers defender John said: "We have been having a chat with the club over the last week or so, so we'll see where things go.

"When I got the phone call, it was an easy decision for me to come up. I know the league fairly well from when I was up here previously. So, it's been all good so far."

Robinson also revealed skipper Mark O'Hara, thought to be out for four to six weeks with a thigh problem, is "maybe not as bad as we first feared" and could be back sooner.

• St Mirren have lost 23 of their last 25 league meetings with Rangers (D2) since a 2-1 victory in December 2011.

• This will be the fifth league meeting between St Mirren and Rangers on Boxing Day. The Ibrox side have won all four to date (1908, 1938, 1970, 2021) by an aggregate score of 9-1.

• Rangers have won their last two away league games, as many as their previous 10 on the road beforehand (W2 D3 L5).

• Rangers have only lost one of their last 26 Boxing Day league games (W22 D3), going down 1-0 to Motherwell in 2002.

• St Mirren have lost three of their last four Scottish Premiership games on Boxing Day, winning the other 2-0 against Ross County in 2020.

Mark Jardine
Fan writer

'Twas the game before Christmas...

For a second week in a row, late heroics were required to bring three points back down the road to Paisley. Granted, the 89th minute in Dingwall is not quite the 99th minute in Perth, but the road home was longer and so I'm counting it as just as sweet.

Saturday's contest in Dingwall was not one for the purists, though certainly wasn't short on drama.

I'm conscious of these post-weekend pieces falling into the same 'X happened, Y didn't, VAR missed Z' formula, so I'll limit myself to this next sentence regarding the decisions made and not made: I think there was a reasonable case for at least three penalties between the hosts and visitors on Saturday, and it's mind-boggling that the officials felt there were none.

One key decision it's hard to protest is the red card for Scott Tanser. For a second time on the road this season, the Saints left-back was shown a second yellow.

While in Motherwell this felt like an injustice, the signs were all there in Dingwall that this was coming. Given what came afterwards, I'm confident he'll have bought an especially fancy selection box for Oisin Smyth.

Smyth, limited to mostly substitute appearances since joining the Saints this summer, was promoted to midfield starting duty in the absence of Mark O'Hara.

The Northern Irishman opted for Paisley in an attempt to kickstart his career on this side of the Irish Sea, but has required patience. Prior to Saturday, his key contribution had been two goals from the bench in Paisley on the opening day.

On this occasion, his moment arrived late in the day in the form of a free-kick. I'm not going to lose the run of myself and start comparing this to Beckham v Greece or Carlos v France, but it meant more to the good people of Paisley than either.

Driven at speed with real quality, Smyth found the corner of Jack Hamilton's net and brought on chaos in the away end.

All notions of being soaked through, battered by icy wind and facing a four-hour bus journey home were forgotten for a few minutes of festive delirium.

Mark Jardine can be found at Misery Hunters, external

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Despite finding themselves reduced to 10 men up at Ross County, St Mirren managed to snag all three points in a narrow 2-1 victory and they have two players in my Team of the Week.

Up against a Ross County side Alex Iacovitti used to captain there was no room for sentiment. Opened the scoring on the way to a 2-1 victory.

Just a second league start for Oisin Smyth who hadn't scored since his double on the opening day of the season either. A barnstormer of a winning goal.

Watch Sportscene analysis of St Mirren's 2-1 win against Ross County in the Scottish Premiership.

(Available to UK users only).

Watch highlights as 10-man St Mirren win at Ross County in the Scottish Premiership.

(Available to UK users only)

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Stephen Robinson insists "there's a lot of positivity" at St Mirren winning 2-1 at Ross County with 10 men.

Following Scott Tanser's red card on 55 minutes, the Buddies claimed all three points thanks to Oisin Smyth's late free-kick to consolidate sixth spot in the table.

"It's funny how the narrative goes, because after 18 games we're only two points behind last season – and that was the best start in 35 years," Robinson said.

"We maybe haven't won the same amount of games in a row. We've won two, then lost a couple instead.

"There's a lot of positivity, a lot of good things – and the credit has to go to this group of players.

"We've had so many trials and tribulations off the park and they've not used it as an excuse.

"They didn't use going to 10 men as an excuse, and it was the same at Perth. I've nothing but the utmost respect for them and owe it to them to try to strengthen again in the January window.

"We can hopefully continue to look forward."

We asked for your views on 10-man St Mirren's 2-1 win against Ross County.

Here's what some of you said:

Eddie: Great team spirit. More decisions that should be looked at by VAR. Why can't VAR look at double yellow and a red card, it's supposed to be there to help? What is the cost of VAR and is it time to get rid of it?

Ian: Oh St Mirren, you put us through the wringer almost every other week. But what a strike, another valuable win and three points. Please begin to change the slow start to each second half in games. Well done lads, you kept fighting until the end.

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• Ross County have lost their last four games in the Premiership, their last joint longest losing streak was from 3 February 2024 to 17 February 2024.

• Oisin Smyth scored his third goal in the Premiership this season, netting for the first time since 4 August against Hibernian.

• Ross County have conceded 12 goals in the last 15 minutes of the second half, only Hibernian (13) have conceded more in the Premiership this season.

• St Mirren have conceded six goals in the first 15 minutes of the second half, only Motherwell (seven) have conceded more in the Premiership this season.

Oisin Smyth's 90th-minute free-kick gave 10-man St Mirren a vital Scottish Premiership victory against Ross County in a wet and wild day in Dingwall.

St Mirren stay sixth but move five points clear of Dundee, while County remain 10th after losing their last four Premiership games.

Did you make the journey up to Dingwall? Was it a deserved victory for Stephen Robinson's side?

Who impressed you and can the Buddies keep this top six push up?

Let us know your thoughts here, external.

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St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson told BBC Scotland: "Oisin [Smyth] has waited really patiently for his chance. He's shown a terrific attitude, been superb in training. I always say to the players 'you have to be ready' when you get your chance and he was ready today - along with Roland Idowu.

"It was a terrific finish but it's no surprise, we see him do that every day in training. He's a boy that I feel can get better and better. That goal deserved to be the winner today.

"The first half was horrible with the wind, we took the lead through a mistake and we rightly deserved it. There wasn't a lot in it, it was a very scrappy affair.

"We went down to 10 men after conceding in the first minute of the second half, which gave us a real uphill task. It's testament to the character of the players, the belief that they have in each other and we grew in belief with 10 men.

"We should have scored three or four with better decision-making. The penalty on Killian is a clear and obvious penalty to me. It looks like it's a handball as well in the box, when [Efete] saves it. Arguably there should have been a penalty for them as well. A lot of drama, a lot of decisions, but a goal worthy to win the game."

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

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Only the top three sides in the league had on their travels to the Global Energy Stadium before this.

It's never an easy trip, let alone with the wind blowing a hoolie and the rain coming down in stair rods. But St Mirren came out on top in the brutal conditions.

They probably just about edged it. They tried to keep the ball on the deck in the first half with the wind in their face, and kept County pinned back for large spells of the second half.

This was all after being let down by Tanser. The left-back flew into a challenge while on a yellow, and that was after a few niggly tackles which also might have tempted Snedden to send him off.

They also came through a few injury complaints. Ellery Balcombe and Richard Taylor were doubts, Tanser was only called into the starting XI on Saturday morning, and Conor McMenamin - their best player in the last few weeks - missed out.

When most teams would wilt, St Mirren stood tall and with three wins in their last five, they're putting some daylight between themselves and the teams below.

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Oisin Smyth. The match-winner on only his second league start.

He hadn't scored since his double on the opening day of the season either, but what a time to step up in the absence of captain Mark O'Hara, who is out for the foreseeable with a thigh problem.

Stephen Robinson might have found an answer quicker than he would've imagined.

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Ross County pair Alex Samuel (thigh) and Eli Campbell (knee) are out with the injuries they sustained against Hibs last weekend, but Ricki Lamie and Max Sheaf are back in training and could come into contention. Will Nightingale (knee) is still out.

St Mirren skipper Mark O'Hara is out for four to six weeks with a recurring thigh problem. Alex Gogic returns from suspension while Toyosi Olusanya is banned after going through the disciplinary points threshold.

Charles Dunne remains out with a hamstring problem. Ellery Balcombe, Scott Tanser, Richard Taylor, Evan Mooney and Conor McMenamin will all be assessed.

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St Mirren skipper Mark O'Hara will be sidelined for up to six weeks with a recurring thigh problem, but manager Stephen Robinson is relieved he hasn't lost the midfielder for the season.

O'Hara suffered the injury as he missed a stoppage-time penalty in last week's 3-2 win over St Johnstone.

Robinson has a host of injury concerns for Saturday's trip to Ross County, saying: "It's been a challenging week.

"Ellery (Balcombe) hasn't trained all week with a knee issue. We'll have to assess him today.

"Scott Tanser hasn't trained all week. Richard Taylor got stretchered off last week, but he isn't quite as bad as we first feared. But again, he hasn't trained, so we need to look at Richard and Scott today.

"Evan Mooney took a knock to his ankle yesterday in training, but we're hoping he will be OK.

"Conor McMenamin looks like he could be struggling with a kick from last Saturday, which he carried on with. But it's really played him up this week.

"Mark is going to be four to six weeks, we believe, after having a scan, which, again, isn't quite as bad as we first feared. We thought it might be for the season.

"It's been a reoccurring injury for Mark, which is really, really frustrating. It's a big blow and for Mark personally, it's been number of times that he's had this issue since his Motherwell days."

Robinson is braced for a tough battle when sixth-place Saints visit a County side who do their best work at home.

"You see even the top sides go and struggle there so we know what we will be up against," he added. "It's forecast not to be a nice day either. So we have to go with the mentality that we win at all costs."

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Scottish FA head of referee operations Willie Collum says goalkeeper Jack Walton's yellow card for a foul on St Mirren forward Toyosi Olusanya should have been upgraded to red in Dundee United's 2-0 win last month.

Walton raced out of his goal and wiped out Olusanya, catching the forward high just outside the penalty box.

"This is not denying a goalscoring opportunity, but it is serious foul play," Collum said on the Scottish FA's VAR Review show, external.

"The height [of the tackle] is important here. There is speed, there is intensity and it meets the criteria of endangering the safety of an opponent.

"It should have been an on-field review to recommend a red card for serious foul play."

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• Ross County are unbeaten in four home league meetings with St Mirren (W3 D1), this after losing three in a row against the Buddies on home soil in the Scottish Premiership beforehand.

• Both of Ross County and St Mirren's last two Scottish Premiership meetings have been drawn, as many as their previous 17 beforehand.

• Ross County have lost their last three league games by an aggregate score of 11-1, conceding at least three goals each time. The last side to lose four in a row in the Scottish Premiership while conceding 3+ goals in each were Hamilton Academical in November 2020.

• St Mirren have won two of their last three away league games (L1), more than their previous 12 on the road beforehand (W1 D3 L8).

• 64% of St Mirren's Scottish Premiership goals this season have been scored in the first half of games (14/22), a league-high ratio. By contrast, 11 of the last 13 league goals the Buddies have conceded have been in the second half, including their last seven in a row.